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Fact or fiction: 5 popular Super Bowl urban legends

Are more women abused on Super Bowl Sunday? We take a look some Super Bowl urban legends

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Updated: 9:31 AM CST Feb 2, 2017

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Fact or fiction: 5 popular Super Bowl urban legends

1 of 5

Sewage systems in major cities back up during halftime

The theory says that millions of adults "hold it" during the first half of the game, leading to an influx of simultaneous flushes that back up a region's sewage system during the halftime show.

Sorry, this one is mostly legend. There was a water main break in Salt Lake City on Super Bowl Sunday in 1984, but no link to the popular football game was found. The city's sewage system was dated - and breaks in its waterline happened somewhat frequently.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: Xurble

2 of 5

There are more car accidents on Super Bowl Sunday

Sadly, this one is true. Drivers are twice as likely to be involved in car accidents after the Super Bowl.

In 2003, the New England Journal of Medicine discovered a 41 percent increase in the average number of vehicular deaths following the big game.

In California, five years' of state crash data found a 77 percent increase in alcohol-related accidents on Super Bowl Sunday.

Be especially vigilant while driving after the game - don't allow friends or relatives to drive if they've been drinking, or organize a carpool to ensure everyone gets home safely. If you're especially devastated after a loss, take a few minutes to calm down before you hit the road.

PHOTO: Free Software Foundation/Wiki Commons

3 of 5

The Super Bowl indicator

The Super Bowl indicator is a superstitious belief that the upcoming year's stock market performance can be predicted based on the game's winner.

The concept says that if a team from the AFC wins, it will be a bear market, but a victory from a NFC team (or NFL before the NFL/AFL merger) ensures a bull market.

As of 2017, the indicator was correct 80 percent of the time, but economics experts say it's merely coincidence.

PHOTO: Stock.xchng

4 of 5

More women are abused on Super Bowl Sunday

Fortunately, this urban legend isn't true.

The myth was based on a 1993 press conference in California that claimed domestic violence disputes increased 40 percent on Super Bowl Sunday. The discussion was led by a group of women's rights activists and led by Sheila Kuehl of the California Women's Law Center. Kuehl was a California senator from 2000 to 2008.

The theory says that millions of adults "hold it" during the first half of the game, leading to an influx of simultaneous flushes that back up a region's sewage system during the halftime show.

Sorry, this one is mostly legend. There was a water main break in Salt Lake City on Super Bowl Sunday in 1984, but no link to the popular football game was found. The city's sewage system was dated - and breaks in its waterline happened somewhat frequently.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: Xurble

There are more car accidents on Super Bowl Sunday

Sadly, this one is true. Drivers are twice as likely to be involved in car accidents after the Super Bowl.

In 2003, the New England Journal of Medicine discovered a 41 percent increase in the average number of vehicular deaths following the big game.

In California, five years' of state crash data found a 77 percent increase in alcohol-related accidents on Super Bowl Sunday.

Be especially vigilant while driving after the game - don't allow friends or relatives to drive if they've been drinking, or organize a carpool to ensure everyone gets home safely. If you're especially devastated after a loss, take a few minutes to calm down before you hit the road.

PHOTO: Free Software Foundation/Wiki Commons

The Super Bowl indicator

The Super Bowl indicator is a superstitious belief that the upcoming year's stock market performance can be predicted based on the game's winner.

The concept says that if a team from the AFC wins, it will be a bear market, but a victory from a NFC team (or NFL before the NFL/AFL merger) ensures a bull market.

As of 2017, the indicator was correct 80 percent of the time, but economics experts say it's merely coincidence.

PHOTO: Stock.xchng

More women are abused on Super Bowl Sunday

Fortunately, this urban legend isn't true.

The myth was based on a 1993 press conference in California that claimed domestic violence disputes increased 40 percent on Super Bowl Sunday. The discussion was led by a group of women's rights activists and led by Sheila Kuehl of the California Women's Law Center. Kuehl was a California senator from 2000 to 2008.

The theory says that millions of adults "hold it" during the first half of the game, leading to an influx of simultaneous flushes that back up a region's sewage system during the halftime show.

Sorry, this one is mostly legend. There was a water main break in Salt Lake City on Super Bowl Sunday in 1984, but no link to the popular football game was found. The city's sewage system was dated - and breaks in its waterline happened somewhat frequently.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: Xurble

There are more car accidents on Super Bowl Sunday

Sadly, this one is true. Drivers are twice as likely to be involved in car accidents after the Super Bowl.

In 2003, the New England Journal of Medicine discovered a 41 percent increase in the average number of vehicular deaths following the big game.

In California, five years' of state crash data found a 77 percent increase in alcohol-related accidents on Super Bowl Sunday.

Be especially vigilant while driving after the game - don't allow friends or relatives to drive if they've been drinking, or organize a carpool to ensure everyone gets home safely. If you're especially devastated after a loss, take a few minutes to calm down before you hit the road.

PHOTO: Free Software Foundation/Wiki Commons

The Super Bowl indicator

The Super Bowl indicator is a superstitious belief that the upcoming year's stock market performance can be predicted based on the game's winner.

The concept says that if a team from the AFC wins, it will be a bear market, but a victory from a NFC team (or NFL before the NFL/AFL merger) ensures a bull market.

As of 2017, the indicator was correct 80 percent of the time, but economics experts say it's merely coincidence.

PHOTO: Stock.xchng

More women are abused on Super Bowl Sunday

Fortunately, this urban legend isn't true.

The myth was based on a 1993 press conference in California that claimed domestic violence disputes increased 40 percent on Super Bowl Sunday. The discussion was led by a group of women's rights activists and led by Sheila Kuehl of the California Women's Law Center. Kuehl was a California senator from 2000 to 2008.